Shoe fastener



0a. 13, 1970 R, E, JONES 3,533,172

SHOE FASTENER Filed May 7, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nvwsw TOR RALPH 5 Jaw-5s 5y A 77'0PA/5Y5 Mme/5, M507, RUSSELL 6: Msev 3,533,172 SHOE FASTENER Ralph E. Jones, San Diego, Calif., assignor of one-half to Kelso Jones, Fairfax, Va. Filed May 7, 1969, Ser. No. 822,438 Int. Cl. A43b 23/00 US. CI. 36-51 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A fastener for a shoe having two spaced flaps, comprising an elastic closure strap spanning the space between and connected to the flaps, and a spacer for limiting contraction of the strap so as to limit any pressure applied to the wearers foot thereby. Two spaced connectors are secured to the strap and one of these is secured to one of the flaps, the other connector being readily engageable with and disengageable from the other flap in securing the shoe to and releasing it from the wearers foot. The strap extends through the spacer, which is tubular and of rectangular cross section and the ends of which are engageable with the respective connectors to limit contraction of the strap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to fasteners for shoes, or the like, and, more particularly, to a fastener for a shoe having two spaced flaps or sides to be secured together to hold the shoe on the wearers foot.

Still more particularly, the invention relates to a fastener of the type comprising resilient means, and especially an elastic strap, acting in tension to bias the two flaps or sides of the shoe toward each other to hold the shoe in place. An important advantage of this type of shoe fastener is that the elastic closure strap is capable of yielding to avoid undue pressure on the wearers foot should his foot assume a position tending to stretch the strap. On the other hand, the steady pressure exerted by such an elastic strap, in holding the shoe in place, can become quite uncomfortable by the end of the day.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF INVENTION In view of the foregoing background, a primary object of the invention is to provide a fastener which utilizes resilient means, and preferably an elastic strap, to bias the two flaps or sides of the shoe together, but which limits movement of the flaps toward each other in opposition to the biasing action of the elastic strap, or other resilient means.

Thus, the present invention utilizes the ability of an elastic closure strap to yield to prevent undue pressure when the wearers foot assumes positions tending to create same, but limits the constant pressure applied by the strap to a value which will not be uncomfortableeven after continuous wear over a long period of time, which are important features of the invention.

More particularly, an important object of the invention is to provide a means for limiting movement of the flaps of the shoe toward each other which comprises spacer means engageable with spaced portions of the elastic strap for limiting contraction thereof to a value which will not create discomfort even after prolonged wear.

Summarizing the invention, an object thereof is to provide a fastener for a shoe having spaced flaps, comprising: an elastic closure strap of a length to span the space between the rflaps and connectible to the flaps in tension to bias them toward each other; two spaced connectors secured to the strap; means for securing'one of the connectors to one of the flaps; disengagable means for releasably securing the other connector to the other flap United States Patent O with the strap in tension; and spacer means extending along the strap between and engageable with the connectors for limiting contraction of the strap.

Another and important object of the invention is to provide a spacer means comprising a tubular spacer of rectangular cross section through which the strap extends and the ends of which are engageable with the respective connectors, the spacer being inwardly, e.g., downwardly, concave in-the direction of its length to better fit the wearers instep in a shoe of the Oxford type.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a shoe fastener wherein the disengageable securing means includes a hook carried by the corresponding flap and having a rounded, outwardly convergent head easily insertable into a complementarily outwardly convergent opening in the corresponding connector on the strap. With this construction, the strap can be hooked and unhooked readily in securing and releasing the shoe, thereby saving a great deal of time, which is an important feature.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a shoe fastener wherein the strap and spacer assembl can be detached from the shoe readily for replacement by another assembly having a spacer of a different length if a tighter or looser fit is desired. This substitution may be made by the shoe salesman initially, or, the purchaser may be provided with several strap-spacer assemblies so that he can select one best suiting his needs. For example, if the user habitually wears heavier socks in winter, he can substitute a strap-spacer assembly incorporating a longer spacer to avoid too high a pressure on his foot.

Another object of the invention in connection with another embodiment thereof is to provide a shoe fastener wherein the elastic strap may be detached from One of the connectors securing it to the shoe so that the spacer may be removed and replaced by another spacer of a different length. In this connection, an object is to provide a wedge and socket means for securing the strap in one of the connectors fastening it to the shoe.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the present invention, together with various other objects, advantages, features and results thereof which will be evident to those skilled in the shoe fastener art in the light of this disclosure, may be achieved with the exemplary embodiments of the invention described in detail hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view on a reducedscale of a shoe equipped with a preferred embodiment of the shoe fastener of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated by the arrowed line 22 of FIG. 1 and showing a strap-spacer assembly of the invention in place;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the strap-spacer assembly removed;

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are sectional views respectively taken along the arrowed lines 4-4, 5-5 and 66 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the strap- Spacer assembly shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view taken as indicated by the arrow 8 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view on a reduced scale of a spacer of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing an alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the arrowed line 11-l1 of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 9, but showing a spacer of the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11.

3 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 1 TO 9 Referring initially to FIG. 1 of the drawings, illustrated therein is a shoe having an upper or vamp 22 provided with two laterally spaced flaps or sides 24 and 26 overlying a tongue 28. A preferred shoe fastener 30 of the invention overlies and is connected to the flaps 24 and 26 and serves to maintain them in predetermined positions relative to each other to hold the shoe 20 on the wearers foot.

The shoe fastener 30 includes as its principal components resilient means 32 for biasing the flaps 24 and 26 toward each other and spacer means 34 for limiting movement of the flaps toward each other in opposition to the biasing action of the resilient means.

Preferably, the resilient means 32 comprises an elastic closure strap 36 of a length to span the space between the flaps and connectible to the flaps in tension to bias them toward each other. More particularly, the elastic strap 36 has spaced connectors 38 and 40 secured thereto, the connector 38 being securable to the flap 24 by a securing means 42, and the connector 40 being releasably secured to the flap 26 by a readily disengageable securing means 44 which permits putting the shoe 20 on and taking it off. The elastic strap 36 is provided thereon with a tip 46 adapted to be gripped by the users thumb and forefinger in engaging and disengaging the securing means 44. The spacer means 34 comprises a tubular spacer 48 of rectangular cross section through which the strap extends and the ends of which are engageable with the connectors 38 and 40, respectively, to limit contraction of the strap, thereby limiting the pressure applied to the wearers foot by the elastic strap. In the particular construction illustrated, wherein the shoe 20 is of the oxford type, the spacer 48 is curved in the direction of its length and is inwardly concave toward the wearers foot so that it at least approximately conforms to the configuration of the wearers instep.

The connector 38 is preferably made of metal and has the form of a shell enclosing the corresponding end of the plastic strap 36. The inner wall of the connector 38 is provided with integral prongs 50 which are struck outwardly and on which the elastic strap 36 is impaled to positively secure the connector 38 to the strap. The connector 38 is provided with a square end 52 against which the corresponding end of the spacer 48 is abuttable.

The connector 38 and the corresponding portion of the elastic strap 36 are provided therethrough with a slot 54 extending longitudinally of the elastic strap. The outer wall of the connector 38 is provided therein with a recess 56 extending transversely of the slot 54.

The securing means 42 comprises a T-shaped stud 58 formed integrally with a plate 60 secured to the flap 24 by rivets 62 headed over a plate 64 on the inner side of this flap. The connector 38 may be secured to the stud 58 by turning the connector 90 from its normal position so that the slot 54 will fit over the head of the stud 58, thereby permitting insertion of the head of the stud through this slot. Then, the connector 38 is turned through 90 to permit the head of the stud 58 to be received in the recess 56 in the outer wall of the connector 38. The distance between the head of the stud 58 and the plate 60 is less than the thickness of the connector 38 so that, when the head of the stud is in the recess 56, the connector is positively secured to the flap 24, but can still be disengaged therefrom for a reason to be discussed hereinafter.

The connector 40, which is preferably metallic, also has the general configuration of a shell enclosing the corresponding portion of the elastic strap 36. The inner wall of the connector 40 is provided with integral, outwardly struck prongs 66 on which the strap is impaled for positive securement. The connector 40' has a square end 68 abuttable by a complementary end of the spacer 48.

.The connector 40, and the corresponding portion of the elastic strap 36, are provided therethrough with an opening 70 which is preferably circular and which is outwardly convergent, as indicated at 72. This outward convergence may be produced by correspondingly deforming outwardly the portion of the inner wall of the connector 40 surrounding the opening 70.

The disengageable securing means 44, for releasably securing the connector 40 to the flap 26, comprises a stud 74 terminating in a hook 76 which faces toward the tip 46 of the elastic strap 36 and which is engageable with the corresponding edge of the opening 70. The hook 76 has a rounded, outwardly convergent head facilitating insertion into the outwardly convergent opening 70. The stud 74 may be formed integrally with a plate 78 which is seated against the outer surface of the flap 26 and which is secured to such flap by rivets 80 extending therethrough and headed over a plate 82 on the inner side of this flap.

The tip 46 on the free end of the elastic strap 36 is also preferably made of metal and has the form of a shell enclosing the free end of the strap. The inner wall of the tip 46 has integral, outwardly struck prongs 84 on which the strap is impaled.

Considering the operation of the shoe fastener 30, after the user has donned the shoe 20, he merely grasps the tip 46 with his thumb and forefinger and pulls thereon to stretch the elastic strap 36 until the outwardly convergent opening 70 through the connector 40 is at least approximately in register with the outwardly convergent, rounded hook 76. The user then displaces the tip 46 inwardly to achieve insertion of the hook 76 into the opening 70, whereupon he releases the tip. The elastic strap 36 then contracts to engage the hook 76 with the connector 40. At the same time, the ends of the spacer 48, which may be made of metal, rigid plastic, or any other suitable material, abut the connectors 38 and 40 to limit contraction of the elastic strap 36.

With the foregoing construction, the elastic strap 36 yields to avoid undue pressure on the wearers foot should his foot assume a positiontending to stretch the strap. When this occurs, either or both of the connectors 38 and 40 move away from the corresponding ends of the spacer 48. On the other hand, the spacer 48 limits the approach of the connectors 38 and 40 toward each other to limit the constant pressure applied to the wearers foot by the elastic strap 36 to a value which can be tolerated in comfort for prolonged periods of time.

If, when the shoe'20 is first fitted, the spacer 48 is too long or too short, the assembly of the elastic strap 36 and the spacer 48 can be detached from the shoe merely by turning this assembly through an angle of until the slot 54 in the connector 38 is aligned with the head of the T-shaped stud 58. The original strap-spacer assembly may then be replaced by another assembly having a longer or shorter spacer 48, as required. It will be understood that the substitute strap-spacer assembly may be installed by first inserting the head of the stud 58 in the slot 54 and then turning the connector 38 90.

The purchaser may be supplied with, or may buy, several strap-spacer assemblies having spacers 48 of different lengths for use under different conditions. For example, if the user plans to wear heavier socks than normal, he may substitute a strap-spacer assembly having a longer spacer 48 to compensate.

It will be apparent that the connector 40 can be engaged with and disengaged from the hook 76 very easily and quickly in fastening and loosening the shoe 20. The time saved, as compared to tying and untying a conventional shoe lace, for example, is very substantial over the life of the shoe 20, and makes the purchase of a couple of extra strap-spacer assemblies well worth the slight additional expense.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT O'F FIGS. to 12 In these figures of the drawings, the shoe is shown as equipped with an alternative shoe fastener 130' of the invention. The shoe fastener 130, in most respects, is identical to the shoe fastener and the same reference numerals are applied to identical parts.

The shoe fastener 130 differs in that it includes an elastic strap 136 disengageably, instead of permanently, secured to a connector 138, the latter being permanently, instead of disengageably, secured to the flap 24. More particularly, the connector 138 comprises a shell which forms a tapered socket 158 of rectangular cross section converging toward the flap 26. The connector 138 is secured to the flap 24 by integral rivets 162 extending through such flap and headed over an inner plate 164. The connector 138 has a square end 152 abuttable by a complementary end of a spacer 148 similar to the spacer 48, but provided, as best shown in FIG. 12, with two aligned, longitudinal slots 149 in its inner wall for a purpose to be described.

An end portion of the elastic strap 136 is doubled around a wedge 137 converging in the same direction as the socket 158, at least one surface of the wedge being provided with ribs, or otherwise roughened, as shown in FIG. 10, to prevent slippage of the elastic strap relative thereto. As will be apparent, the wedge 137, the portion of the elastic strap 136 doubled therearound and the tapered socket 158 cooperate to anchor the corresponding end of the elastic strap.

In general, the operation of the shoe fastener 130 is identical to that of the shoe fastener 30, differing only in the way in which another spacer is substituted for the spacer 148 if a spacer of a different length is desired for any reason, either initially at the time of purchase, or later on to compensate for thicker or thinner socks, or the like.

To change the spacer 148, the doubled end portion of the elastic strap 136 and the wedge 137 are withdrawn from the socket 158. This may be accomplished by inserting a suitably hooked tool into the larger end of the socket 158 until it engages the loop formed by the doubled end portion of the elastic strap 136, whereupon such end portion and the wedge 137 can be pulled out. Then, the spacer 148 is pulled off the elastic strap 136 and the strap is then inserted through another spacer of the desired length. This process is facilitated by the longitudinal slots 149, which permit the insertion of a pointed tool into engagement with the strap to assist in threading it through the spacer. Once this has been accomplished, the elastic strap 136 is stretched sufliciently to permit doubling the end portion thereof around the wedge 137 again, whereupon the doubled end portion of the strap and the wedge may be reinserted into the socket 158 and pushed home.

Initially, the elastic strap 136 may be made a little longer than normally required to insure the presence of sufficient length for a person requiring an unusually long spacer 148. At the time of initial fitting, the salesman can trim off any excess length of the elastic strap 136.

As will be apparent, the shoe fastener 130 of the invention requires the user to purchase only a couple of extra spacers 148. The shoe fastener 30 requires the purchase of complete extra strap-spacer assemblies at somewhat greater expense, but changing spacer length is considerably easier than With the shoe fastener 130.

Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that vairous changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated therein without departing from the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a fastener for a shoe having two spaced flaps, the combination of:

(a) resilient tension means comprising an elastic strap connectible to said flaps [for biasing them toward each other;

(b) means for connecting said elastic strap to one of said flaps;

(c) disengageable means for releasably connecting said elastic strap to the other of said flaps; and

(d) means for limiting movement of said flaps toward each other in opposition to the biasing action of said elastic strap.

2. A shoe fastener as set forth in claim 1 wherein said limiting means includes spacer means for limiting contraction of said strap.

3. In a fastener for a shoe having spaced first and second flaps, the combination of:

(a) an elastic closure strap of a length to span the space between said flaps and connectible to said flaps in tension to bias them toward each other;

(b) spaced, first and second connectors secured to said strap;

(c) first securing means for securing said first connector to said first flap;

(d) second, disengageable securing means for releasably securing said second connector to said second flap with said strap in tension; and

(e) spacer means extending along said strap between and engageable with said connectors for limiting contraction of said strap.

4. A shoe fastener as defined in claim 3 wherein said spacer means comprised a tubular spacer of rectangular cross section through which said strap extends and the ends of which are engageable with said connectors, respectively, said spacer being inwardly concave in the direction of its length.

5. A shoe fastener acocrding to claim 3 wherein said second connector is provided with an outwardly convergent opening, and wherein said second securing means includes a hook carried by said second flap and engageable with an edge of said opening, said hook having a rounded, outwardly convergent head facilitating insertion into said opening.

6. A shoe fastener as set forth in claim '3 wherein said first connector is provided therethrough with a slot extending longitudinally of said strap and is provided in its outer surface with a recess extending laterally of said strap and said slot, and wherein said first securing means includes a T-shaped stud which is carried by said first flap and the head of which is insertable through said slot and then receivable in said recess upon turning of said first connector through 7. A shoe fastener as defined in claim 3 wherein said first connector comprises a socket of rectangular cross section converging toward said second flap and fastened to said first flap by said first securing means, said socket containing a wedge converging toward said second flap and having an end portion of said strap doubled therearound. 4 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 371,749 10/ 1 887 Fitzpatrick et al 2473.90 1,378,602 5/1921 Miyokawa 24-739 FOREIGN PATENTS 531,776 1/ 1941 Great Britain. 186,809 7/ 1907 Germany.

ALFRED R. GUEST, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 24-73, 201 

